Patsy left a lasting impression
PATRICIA (PATSY) Byrne was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who will be very much missed by her 10 children, 25 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
She was born in Long Island, New York on June 23, 1931. When she was three-years-old, following the death of her mother, she was brought to Ireland to be reared by her grandparents Nicholas and Bridget Lambert on Anne Street, Wexford and later on Lower John Street.
After attending Miss Irwin’s in Wexford, Patsy went to the Loreto Convent in Enniscorthy as a boarder at the age of seven and had a very happy experience there. She left to complete her final year in secondary school and sit the Leaving Cert in Loreto Convent, Bray.
After her Leaving Cert, she sat the matriculation exams for university and passed with flying colours. But she decided to return to her beloved Wexford where she took a position in the land project office in the Co. Hall.
Patsy was a keen hockey player and played with Greenhills Hockey Club. She met her late husband Vin here as he too played hockey for the club, and for Leinster. Patsy was married when she was 22-years-old and moved to Ballygrangans, Kilmore. She and Vin worked hard on the family farm over 40 years, rearing their family of five boys and five girls.
Patsy loved meeting people and had a great way with everyone she met. Whenever friends of her family would call or visit she would leave a lasting impression on them.
She played Bridge for over 25 years at Wexford Bridge Centre and was a member of the Raven Club, where she made many friends. She was very popular with many of the clubs in the Bridge Centre and, though she never rated herself a good player, most members would say that she was very good.
Patsy also loved the Young at Heart club, of which she was a member in Kilmore and she would not miss Monday afternoon meetings if at all possible. Even when she was not feeling too well, she made every effort to go as they kept her in touch with everyone.
She loved to travel also and went to Australia, America and Europe several times to visit family. She loved all things sport and encouraged all of her family to take part in sport while growing up.
She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and they adored her. She had a great understanding of young people and they could talk to her about anything. She was very loyal and discreet with everyone. Always willing to help, she would drop everything to drive them wherever they needed to go.
Patsy had a great sense of humour and loved to laugh. She loved comedy on television. She was light-hearted and never took herself too seriously. She loved drama and musicals, and attended many productions down through the years.
She had a strong faith and would attend Mass regularly. She prayed the Rosary every night in bed and sometimes worried that she fell asleep before finishing it. Unfortunately, she wasn’t aware that Pope Francis also sometimes falls asleep while praying and, when asked about it, he replied that ‘It pleases God to fall asleep while praying’, so she need not have worried.
A wonderful mother and friend, she is sadly mourned by her children Paddy, Mary, John, Christina, Anne, Nicholas, Vincent, Bridget, Sheila and James, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, relatives and many friends.
Patsy’s Month’s Mind Mass will take place in Kilmore Church on December 8 at 7:30 p.m.
May her gentle soul rest in peace.